Austin Jackson’s bat wakes up back in leadoff spot for Tigers

Oakland Athletics left fielder Stephen Vogt misplays the double by Detroit Tigers’ Austin Jackson during the third inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Wednesday, July 2, 2014.
CARLOS OSORIO — The Associated Press

DETROIT >> The message has been consistent, no matter what the Tigers have tried to do to make it happen.

They NEED Austin Jackson to get going. And not just going for a little bit, then tail off, like he has at other times this season.

Truly going.

Like he was Wednesday, when he looked like his old catalyst self, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI from the leadoff spot to end a five-game drought.

“He looked good. He looked really good. Even that last at-bat, he hit that ball hard at the first baseman. So he’ll be back there again tomorrow,” said manager Brad Ausmus, who’d put Jackson in the leadoff spot three games ago, moving him back where he’d had success in his first four seasons. “Austin, the idea of putting him back in the leadoff spot, this is where he’s been the last few years. I know in the playoffs towards the end there, he hit in the eight-hole but he’s been a good player the first few years of his career so put him back in a spot, see if we can get him comfortable, get him in familiar surroundings and hopefully get him swinging the bat.”

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Coming in on an 0-for-18 streak, Jackson’s batting average had dipped down to .238, only five points above his season low at the start of last month.

He struck out in his first at-bat, then ripped off three straight hits — starting with a double that set up the game-tying run, and following with an RBI single that put the Tigers ahead for good — for his fourth three-hit game of the season.

It helped that the rest of the lineup chipped in, too. Rajai Davis had a two-run single to kick-start the six-run sixth inning, and Torii Hunter — whose average had dipped under .250 for the first time since April, thanks to a 3-for-28 stretch after returning from a sore hamstring — contributed three RBI singles.

“Whoever’s leading off, if it’s Jackson — and it will be Jackson again tomorrow — and JD (Martinez is) in the lineup and Torii’s in the lineup, you stretch the lineup out quite a bit. That’s all the way through six right there,” Ausmus said. “Sometimes Rajai will be in there. It might some mix and matching at times, but it does stretch the lineup out quite a bit offensively.”

JD Martinez, Sanchez earn Tigers honors

After earning American League Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career, J.D. Martinez was named the Tigers’ Player of the Month for June.

“He’s been, for the last three weeks, he’s been probably our main run-producer. He swung the bat well. He’s a guy, right now, that you don’t want out of the lineup very often, other than to give him a rest here and there. His power makes him such a threat that, even if he’s not swinging the bat well, a pitcher’s gotta be careful with him,” manager Brad Ausmus said.

“But he’s been a huge, huge asset these last few days.”

Sanchez was one of only four pitchers in the American League (with a minimum of three decisions) to go unbeaten in the month of June. He was 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA and held opponents to a .211 batting average.

Tigers make first international signing

The international signing period for Major League Baseball opened on Wednesday, and the Tigers reportedly nabbed Dominican outfielder Julio Martinez right off the bat.

Jim Callis of Baseball America reported the signing, as well as the $600,000 price tag. The Tigers have a bonus pool of $1,946,900 to spend on international signings.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, the right-handed-hitting Martinez profiles as a left-fielder with limited footspeed and a tendency to let his swing get long. He was not one of Baseball America’s top 30 international prospects.

About the Author

Detroit Tigers beat writer for The Oakland Press in Pontiac, Michigan. Mowery has spent 18 years covering sports, from preps to pros. He’s been honored with more than 25 awards for writing. Reach the author at matt.mowery@oakpress.com
or follow Matthew B. on Twitter: @MatthewBMowery.